Chapter 5: Ri-Kiagun's Nightmare (part 2)
Page 1:
The leaves grow rather shifty and sway left and right as they fall. Each patch of green turns a dull brown-orange as the curse of chaos devours our minds slowly with this disillusion madness. As bright as the day may seem, there seem to be an absence of smiles, and for that, *sigh* I guess I should do something about it and hope this town is grateful for it.Kevin (noticing Karoku's lips moving): Hey, what are you whispering?
Karoku (looking back without turning his neck to face him): N- nothing, it's nothing. Hey, uhhhhh, Kevin, right? Let's stop at the fountain for a moment. I want to do something.
Kevin: Huh?
We walk by the marble-wonder, and stop at the very front of it. In the time being, I stare into the puddle, looking for clues. Surely this so-called waterfall comes from a source and plummets from it's destination. The question is, where does it start and how does it get here? With that answer, only then could we predict a "back-door" escape by Tim. If that's the case, then we should get a move on (wow, too much emphasis on "we").Kevin (noticing Karoku mumbling again): Ehrm, you're scaring me again. May I ask you this? Are you sure you aren't working for that jerk or something?
(The branches curl and the water begins to decrease in sea level)
Karoku (noticing the sudden drop in sea-level): Yes, I'm sure. Listen, I'm just a little upset at my so-called home. Just because I'm creepy-looking, doesn't mean I'm violent...
I pause (and in my mind) slap myself after forgetting that I'm aggressive, but I try to say something else so that he doesn't take me for some jerk.Kevin: Is something wrong with you? You seem tense?
Karoku (ignoring what I said before, and changing the topic): SO! Lovely day we're having, aren't we (faking a smile).
Kevin: Nope, you fail at it....
Karoku (sweat-dropping): Gee, could you put that any clearer so that I can hear it?
Kevin (arrogantly speaking): YOU FAIL AT-
Karoku (pissed off): THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT, ASSHOLE!
* Karoku punches the back of Kevin's head
Karoku: Anyways(ignoring Kevin's suffrage), I just noticed something these last few seconds. It's important if you want to see your friends again.
Kevin (eager to hear): Yes?
I give out a breath and look around me. Time is running out, and it seems like Tim wants this town to decay as well as the landscape around it.Karoku: Ever notice how everything here is.... what's the word.... expiring?
Kevin: Okay, what the hell are you-...! Oh, I see. Yeah, come on. I know where the water fall cavern is. Follow me!
Karoku: WELL! You could have just say something in the first place!
Kevin: Yeah, I know. Calm down. Kormin is doing his, or her, job rescuing the others. Our job is to pull Tim away from the hostages.
Karoku (relieved): ....Okay, go on....
Kevin: That was all. Listen, I'm going to be honest... You don't look like the fighting type.
I stop for a moment and look down in doubtness of myself.
Kevin (looking back and stopping): Something wrong, Karoku?
Karoku (faking a smile, sweat-dropping, and scratching his head): Well, yeah, I guess you're right. I just started a day ago. I'm a novice, hehehe.
Kevin: We're doomed.....
Karoku: (Grrr) You saw what I did to him back there! How could you possibly think like that!?
Kevin: Heh, you're probably right... Me and Kevin continue running along way, now passing by the library and a few other food stands.
Karoku: ...!
The lettering change into words with reference to death.Karoku: (He'll be sorry)
Kevin: Psst! Hey, Hasu. One other thing.
I look forward and sprint faster to catch up with him.Karoku: Yeah?
Kevin: If we make it out alive, and save my friends, I'd be grateful you came, even if we met for a few.
Karoku: I have no friends.....
Kevin: Ouch, pity... well, this will be your first "thank you" gift.
Karoku: Yeah, yeah, shutup and keep going.
Upon this short talk and "walk", we arrive at the entrance where the War Goat dug up, and walk into it. I see the inside and notice its
beauty.Karoku (looking around): Wow....
Whilst I stare at all the glory, I feel vibrations from the ground, and wish to examine it thoroughly.* Karoku places the head-lock end of his blade to the ground
Kevin: You feel th-...! Good call! We can track down the source with- wait, how did you kn-
Karoku (concentrating): Shhh!
For a few moments, I feel Kormin's presence in another part of the cavern, possibly in a different tunnel.Karoku: I don't know. Instincts, I guess. Perhaps I'm a little innovative when it comes to things, and I don't notice it. I'm not that bright. I'm just creative with solutions. After all, I just got this sword yesterday. Might as well check-mark all it's capabilities, and amplification-detection is one of them.
Kevin (impressed): No, you're quite bright after seeing that. Come on, lets keep going.
Feeling the emptiness of the water, I stay in still-form, focusing my energy.Kevin: Huh? What are you waiting for?
Karoku: Go on, I'll see you there. Go slowly, though. I'll bring in a welcome surprise for good ol' Timmy.
Kevin smiles with "I-get-it" gestures and simply walks towards the tunnel.... by himself.... without me....Kevin: Okay, I hope this works. (Looking back) Hey Karoku, how long are you-...!!!! WHAT THE HELL!? KAROKU! WHERE ARE YOU!?
To Kevin, Karoku is absent from the scene, however.....Karoku (confidentially): Heheh, this is going to to be fun ((smirking)).
* Karoku pulls out his blade and rockets at high speed out of the tunnel
* Karoku lands in a nearby tree, and capsizes it with incredible amount of aura (along with a few other trees)
* Karoku rockets at high speed through the tunnel, flying past Kevin
Kevin (Seeing him fly by): OH MY GOD! WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT IDIOT THINK HE'S DOING!?[/me]
Karoku finally arrives at the center of Conscera, and notices a large shrine with a set of tiles, like a monk temple. Suspended in the air, still, Tim faces him and to upcoming Kevin, who now stares at the lunging Karoku.Karoku: HIYYY! PREPARE YOURSELF!!!
Tim (simply side-stepping out of the way): Mmhmm..... work on your aim next time ((However, a hit like that could have knocked me out fairly easily, or at least...))
Karoku (rebounding from the wall and landing on the floor): Hmm, pretty good.
Tim: Yes, well, you too, for a novice.
We both look at each other, battle-ready, watching to see who makes the next move. Me with my sword, out in my grasp, while Tim with his umbrella, also clutching it hard. Every time I blink, I begin to get uncomfortable headaches from the blinding change in the umbrella's appearance. Excited, I forget Kevin and Kormin and worry about this jerk instead. He too seems to have forgotten his prisoners, while for the first time, I notice how empty the room is, and how Kormin is not around.
Waiting for something around us to signal our fight, I hear a few drops of water nearby, and slowly, each drop fades...Tim: Before we begin...
* Tim bites Karoku's neck
The pain is great and I hold the bite-mark with great strength, desperately fighting it.Karoku: GAAAAAHHHHH!!!! Gihhhhhh.......
* Tim wipes blood off his mouth
Karoku: If you thought I was going to turn into a vampire, you're dead wrong. I'm already a legend-untold. You can't change what's already in a man, and I, I have a beast lurking inside me as we speak. Unleash it, and things can get quite ugly *smirk.*
Tim: Oh, no, not at all. I do that so that I can remember you next time. I have this habit of forgetting faces. Your mark is unique. Think of it as a tattoo, and don't worry, it won't harm you. Even I, myself wonder what will result in all of this. Nevertheless, I'm placing a bet.
Kevin (too tired to yell it out): Hasuuuuuuuuuu- *squeal* *cough, cough, cough.* I need, air....
Not only is the environment decaying, but the air is getting pretty rotten every second.Karoku: (Where is Kormin?) Go on.....
Tim: I bet that you can't last 10 minutes under a blindfold, fighting me. Oh! Take this sword as well.
Tim hands me a wooden katana.Kevin: Karoku! I don't trust this!
Karoku: Shut up you runt! So what? I have to fight you with this? What will I benefit from this?
Tim stops and smiles, laughs maniacally for a bit, and sheds a tear.Tim: Well, there's no guarantee the bet will be complete, but I will tell you this much, if you partake in it, I will spare your friends and you can all leave. Of course, if you fail, there will be consequences. And, if you win, well *snicker,* that's it if you can comprehend the madness, if you're ever ready *bursts out in maniacal laughter.*
* Karoku puts on the blindfold and wooden katana
Karoku: Yeah, yeah, just shut the hell up and raise thy sword.... errr.... umbrella!
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Tim (still laughing): Very well then. If you are eager to die, then I might as well hurry things up. I hate it when bets take long to complete, especially when progress isn't made.
Tim, now a little more serious and monotone, points his umbrella at Karoku and looks at Kevin.Tim: Oh, just one more thing... Kevin, may I wager a bet with you as well?
Kevin: (Huh? What does he want with me now?) .....
Kevin, confused, backs 2 steps and feels a wall stopping him from moving backwards any farther. Seeing this form of trickery, he looks back, realizing that Tim was not planning to let him escape. In fact, he seems to be encased in an invisible box.Kevin: Hold on! What's going?
Kevin tries to free himself, but no good. He's as good as trapped.
Tim: Don't waste your breath struggling. In fact, it's a surprise you are breathing. You should be running out of air by then. Oh well, I guess I haven't put much effort to that spell. Now, what I want to declare, for my victory, is the sphere of sanctuary. If your friend manages to defeat me, I'll not only let your friends go, but I may consider giving you the cure for your dear American friend.
* Tim takes out a pendant and shows it to Kevin
Kevin: Is this it?
Kevin looks at it curiously. Meanwhile, I start to get rather impatient and grow angrier with each given con-trick that Tim commits.Tim (with monotonic sarcasm): No, it's my grandmothers. She gave it to me to look stylish. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS YOU IMBECILE?!-
Karoku (calmer than before, with eyes closed): He accepts.
Now feeling a bit nervous, I sense Kormin again due to the tremors given from the excitement. However, I feel more footsteps.....!Karoku (opens his eyes under his blindfold, with great discovery): (KORMIN FOUND THEM!)
Tim: Ahem! Yes, well, so it may be... (resumes with Karoku).
Kevin: Dammit, Karoku! *Sigh* Yes, I accept. (You better win, Hasu)
Karoku (facing Tim): So, are you ready yet, or do you want to settle a gamble with someone else in the room?
Tim: It's just you and me, and dear old Kevin over there. As you said,
shut the hell up and raise thy sword!Karoku and Tim get in their stances and raise their weapons. Kevin watches while these two titans brawl it out...Tim: Aha, I take the first move.
* Tim lunges forward at the blinded Karoku with his umbrella wide-open
Tim is now surrounded and coated in orange-auroral armor.Karoku: Damn, I can't feel him from the ground. Hmmm....
* Karoku leaps over Tim and and uses his ears, throwing his wooden katana at the given spot of hearing
Tim: Heh! Missed... Even blindfolded you're helpless!
* Tim throws his umbrella upwards, hoping to hit Karoku in mid-air
Karoku: Damn!
* Karoku relies on his weight and applies pressure to his body to fall down faster
Karoku (taking his wooden katana out of the ground): Yeah, but you forget that all that's null in my senses is my eye-sight. Ever heard of the blind-swordsmen?
* Karoku pelts his wooden katana to the ground even harder...
* Tim takes out his book and reads a spell
Tim: Knappe Palm en Shifty Hand. Maak deze minderjarige begrijpen!
* Tim releases two spheres of energy: One is orange and the other is white
Karoku: (Yeah, I can feel it...) Ignoring me, huh? I hate it when assholes like you turn when I'm speaking.
* Karoku tosses his katana at a random direction (and like a sun dial), and detects the spot he stands now
* Karoku lunges at Tim with his right fist clenched in all his might
* Karoku feels the heat of the energy spheres nearby and passes by them without touching them
Tim: Let me redefine "disrespect"-
* Karoku is in front of Tim ready to strike a hit
Karoku: Too late! GAMMA FIST!!!!
Tim: Damn!
* Tim dodges the attack with pain-staking effort
Tim gets sent flying a several dozen tiles back and hits the wall hard. He gets hurt in the process, but manages to dodge the punch with all his parts still intact. The punch was so great, it created a series of dark-auroral shock waves, collapsing part of the ceiling in which falls on top of Kevin. Of course.....Kevin (freaking out): OH NO! I'M GOING TO DIE!
* BOOOM!!!!!
Kevin looks up and sees that he is trapped under large rocks. His prison is now dark.Kevin (runny nose): *Sniff* .....
* Tim comes out of the wall and proceeds to make weird hand gestures. With his right hand, he controls the orange energy, whilst his left hand, controls the orange.
Tim (smiling evilly): Time for a trade.
* Tim moves both spheres to chase Karoku down
Karoku (feeling warm again): Shit! STAY AWAY!
* Karoku tries to leap, but it's to late
* Karoku gets stricken by the energy spheres, however
Nothing happens...
Instead, they now lie in my hands, glowing there. Absolutely nothing happens at all...Karoku: What the hell is this supposed to be?
Tim (grinning and crossing his arms): Hmph...
Kevin (under the rocks): Karoku? Is that you? GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!
Karoku (angrier than ever): What the hell is THIS?
Tim: Amuse me... Go ahead and activate the force of the spheres. I'd like to see how you react. Of course, one does nothing to you, while the other may kill you. It all depends how you do it. Even if you pick the wrong one, you may survive, but the cost will remain great. This is not an easy spell, but it does take a lot of energy to pull it off.
Karoku: NEVER!
Tim: *Sigh* I though you were fun, but it seems that now, you're just boring me.
I stand still on the cieling just wondering what the hell I should do. It comes to be, when all of a sudden...Karoku: I refuse to listen! If you're going to confuse the shit out of me, then try someone else, because I don't like puzzles! I-
I quickly realize that any of my attacks channeled from my hands may activate these spheres (or one of them, at least), so I stop for a second and raise my feet.Tim: What a coward...
* Tim takes out his umbrella and jumps at Karoku, to hit him with it
Tim: YOU CAN'T LIVE ON LIFE BEING CAUTIOUS ALL THE TIME!
* Karoku attempts to strike a master's weapon with his own body, by kicking at high speed
Karoku: HIYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA!!!
Both hit, but the umbrella prevails over foot-work after simultaneous hits, as it knocks me down to the ground with great punishment.Karoku (in agony): GAHHH!!!! Damn, that thing is tough.
Tim: Hmm, 4 minutes have past. Pretty good...
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I hit the floor and break several tiles. The knock-back must have been pretty brutal for an umbrella to toss one around like that.Karoku: 4 minutes huh? (Coughs blood out) Damn, not even half.
Tim: Yes, well, try harder if you want to remain that way. Pointless effort for someone who should avoid and evade. I never restricted that now, eh? Then again...
Karoku (getting up): Then again, it would be no fun if I couldn't get the satisfaction of kicking your ass, BLINDED!
Tim: Touche, but fair enough...
Tim once again takes out his book and lunges towards the ground. He lands on his feet and opens it to the very half of the pages.Tim: This you might like, you insignificant coward.
* Tim reads another spell, and this time, summons an army of the living-dead
Tim: Grafgewelf crisis , wezen van Iris!.......
Karoku (bleeding from his mouth): (Damn, why the hell is this taking so much out of me?) Obviously something is involved with these things.....
I look (though ironic) at the white and orange glow in my hands, feeling no physical change whatsoever. I do feel rather weaken after a simple hit from his umbrella, and unfortunate I am, I feel immobilize.Tim: Zoeken uw hens voort zulks mens , vreemdeling!.......
* Tim continues reading his book, as the living-dead grab Karoku's feet
Karoku: GET THE HELL OFF!
* Karoku uses his feet yet again, and struggles to kick them back in an attempt to retreat to a safer distance
Karoku: *Pant, pant, pant*
Tim (Now focused): Voeren hem ter uw vuil wereld vergevorderd ; en gammel stoffer en gebeente van hel!.......
* Tim continues reading his spell
* Karoku jumps up and clings to the ceiling
Tim (quickly): Slipjacht hem vanuit zijn haven - hiernaartoe , voor werkhuis - en - werkhuis voor hij mare ; naar de vuurgloed vuur , zengen waas!.......
Karoku: (God damn it! This guy won't shut up!) ENOUGH!!!!
* Karoku charges energy from his feet and releases a flurry of dark energy blasts at Tim
Tim (no emotion, facing Karoku): Naar de rood mannenwerk badkuip , goedertierenheid op uiterlijk vertoon niet! Voor wanneer hij wroeten , hij zal weet........
The living-dead shield Tim, as each one falls apart, respectively. In the mean time, more of these fiends reach for Karoku from up the ceiling.
In the mean time.....* Kormin appears from several trees and digs a large tunnel with "Berenice's hair"
Kormin (Running through the tunnel): (Don't worry my friends. I won't leave you behind. Kevin, stranger, I hope you two can pull it off...)
Kormin continues running, but as she runs, she hears a loud bang outside. Cautious enough to believe it's the War Goat, she sprints twice as fast without looking back.
Kormin now stands in front of a crypt full of bones and corpses, and over the sea of decay hangs Utoa, Akier, and Chierce (unconscious).Kormin (Changing back into male-form): That mad-man..... How could he?
* Kormin begins cutting through all the chains and catches them in the air, one-by-one
Kormin tries to awaken all, but only Utoa manages to wake up.Kormin: UTOA! YOU'RE ALIVE!
* Kormin springs and hugs Utoa
Utoa, non too clear of what is happening, remains still with her eyes wide-open.Utoa (with a headache): It was all a blur-
Kormin: Utoa, are you okay?
Utoa (feeling weary): -huh?
Utoa, tries to relax as she looks around in horror, all the dead bodies and chains they cast upon her and her crew.
Utoa is in great shock.Utoa (hyperventilating): .......
Kormin: Yes, it's pretty twisted, don't you think?
Utoa: Yeah, I guess Tim did get a hold of us. Where are Akier and Chierce?- WHERE IS KEVIN?!
Kormin, trying to wake up Akier and Chierce, hears yet more loud tremors from the other side of the cavern.Kormin: Here. As for Kevin, he is with a stranger who's-name-I-do-not-remember. But have no worry, the boy is magnificent! Kevin is in good hands, I assure you-
Utoa grabs Kormin's shirt and lifts him up to the wall.Utoa: IDIOT! HOW COULD YOU?! IT COULD EASILY BE ONE OF TIM'S SPELLS OR SERVANTS! I CAN'T FORGIVE THIS, KORMIN!
Kormin (now timid): I-I-I don't know...
Utoa (even angrier): WHAT?!
Kormin: I-I just s-saw him walk f-from so far. He saved Kevin's life, Utoa. Can you calm down and not stress?
Utoa finally releases Kormin from her grip and proceeds to awaken Akier and Chierce from their sleep. She takes out a pendant containing minor properties to that of the Sphere of Sanctuary, and feeds each drop to the sleeping men.Utoa (pouring the drops): Well, we should meet up with them so that we can help in any way. I was careless last time, but this, I'm ready-
Akier (pretending to be asleep the whole time): Ahem! While you ladies insist on fighting, I will be drinking my bottled beer and not share it. No rush, my dear Utoa (smiles)?
Kormin/Utoa: AKIER!!!
They dog-pile him, as Chierce wakes up, rather ill.Cheirce: Hi everyone- NO HUGS!..... I feel strange....
Akier: Aye, what be wrong then, lad?
Chierce: I....I do not know....
Akier takes Utoa's pendant and gives Chierce a few more drops of healing water.Akier: That's it-that's it, just lie down and breath deeply.
Utoa: Oh my, I hope nothing serious happened to him...
Chierce coughs out blood. Seeing this, the others widen their eyes to this.Kormin: Hmm, it's that serious, eh? Remain still, I'll handle this...
Kormin takes out a few herbs he snuck from the shrine, hoping it will bring back Chierce.
After a few minutes, Chierce starts to feel better.Kormin: Feeling better there?
Chierce (much more energized): AHHH, yes! Thank you so very much laddy. Now I feel so much better. Kevin will be surprised when he hears of the great herbs of the shrine! Ahhh, that be true!
Kormin: For now, just remain silent, and we shall leave when the time is right.
Utoa: But what about-
Akier: They'll be just fine lass, they will...
Utoa (now a little worried): I hope.....
Meanwhile, back in the fight....
Something grabs me from behind and I see a collection of bones and flesh reaching out to get me. Fighting back, I continue to hear Tim's chant, and continue blasting away to prevent him from finishing his spell.Tim: Zwaar rood velletje , en ingevallen gebeente!.......
* Tim continues summoning zombies
Karoku: GAHHHH!!!! SHUT UUUUUUUUP!!!!
* Karoku continues to fire away at the barricade of the living-dead, until he can no longer fight
Tim (finishing his chant): MEI HIJ TEERLING , EEUWIG ZIEL!!!
Tim finally cracks a demonic smile and stands there glowing. More of the living dead surround him, now covered in armor of corpses.Karoku: Gah! Damn it! Alright asshole, if that's how you'll play, then so will I!
* Karoku coats himself in "Draco Skin" (dragon scales)
* Tim appears from behind Karoku, up the cieling, and reaches for him
Tim: Fool! Give up while you can to live another 10.
Karoku: FUCK YOU AND YOUR CHAOS!
* Karoku charges his right leg and kicks Tim down the floor
* Karoku lunges at Tim to do a second Gamma Fist, but chooses to head-butt him instead
Tim (taking the hits): OOMPH!!!
Karoku: KIMODO-CRATER!!!
Seconds before the hit connects, Karoku slowly grows horns and wings. He is turning into his demon state as his anger and stress grows more so.
As for Tim, he realizes how much time has passed, and cancels the blind-fold effect. He now takes punishment from the head-butt, yet remains unharmed due to the living dead that surrounded him.
However, a large crater is formed around Tim and expands the total volume of the cavern, too blowing the rocks over Kevin, away. Now he can see what is going on.Kevin: Alright!
Tim (with great exhaustion): Gihhhhh, interesting..... *pant* Hey, you can remove the fold. Take out your sword and prepare for yet another division of chaos!
Kevin, hearing this from close distance, feels his prison weakening and proceeds hitting the invisible walls.Kevin: KAROKU, GET AWAAAAAAAAY! HE'S PLANNING TO SUMMON WAR GOOOOOOAAAAAAAT!!!!
Tim (laughs uncontrollably): BINGO! INSERT BRAVADO HERE- KEEEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Karoku (even more excited): Damn, well it's about time (smiles with great confidence). (Looks at his hands): DAMN! THESE STUPID THINGS ARE STILL HERE!
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The details are aggravating, as I punch the ground with rage hoping the spell would break as well as the blind-fold (in which now I carry Shimekiribi in my grasp). No matter.... at least I have free-will of the sword now that the bid is won.Tim: I hope I don't scare you..... WAR GOAT! I SUMMON THEE!
This time, Tim chants in English. He feels there is no need in hiding the meaning behind the spell, since this one is seemingly powerful. That, and the fact it's a summoning-spell. Not much trickery but the terror that this one will reign upon us.Kevin (still pecking at the walls): (Almost there...)
Karoku: Well, at least things will seem a little more fair...
War Goat is at last summoned, as the ground in front of me completely capsizes in front of my eyes. The creature is enormous. Coated in white-silver fur, sharp fangs and weight-smashing molars, quadri-horns sprouting from its head. The creature is absolutely hideous. At least half of its body is all bones filled with orange energy and hate. This may require more than just my sword...Karoku (pointing at War Goat): That... that, I am not afraid of...
Holding my sword tighter, I await from Tim's spoken words, as he hesitates to say a thing.
Karoku (now serious): .....
Tim (whispering): Slaughter...
* War Goat charges forward at Karoku with its claws facing upwards
Karoku: (Shit!)
* Karoku takes the hit and is sent back at a wall
Karoku bleeds profusely...Tim: Hmph! War Goat, finish him off.
Kevin: KAROKU!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Tim: YES!
* War Goat charges again, now with Tim on his neck
Karoku: .....
* SPLEEEEESHHHHHHHHHH!!!!Kevin (with his hands covering his eyes): ......!
Kevin looks in amazement. After 5 minutes of staring into the dust cloud, he sees that Karoku has not fallen from where he stands. In fact, his shadow appears much larger, as wings sprout fully and so does a tail and a couple of horns.
Karoku is still alive, and the source of the splatter comes from non other than Tim.Karoku (now in full demonic state): Grrrrrr, Tim...
Karoku had thrown his sword at Tim, now hanging from the ceiling. Tim's shoulder bleeds and stains most of his clothing red. At least 1/3 of it. As for War Goat, his claws are held by Karoku's hands, now glowing purple/black.Tim: GAAAAAHHHHHHH! YOU INSECT! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY AAARM?! *Yelping from the pain*
Kevin: Incredible.....
* Karoku tosses War Goat's claws aside like an ant and proceeds to activate the white sphere
Karoku: You thought you can fuck with me, but you're dead wrong. In fact, I know how to negate this stupid spell of yours.
Unusual enough, Karoku does not have the disgruntled and beastly attitude at the moment, he knows what he says as Tim looks back with curiosity and a new-found appreciation of his new "arch-nemesis."
Tim tries to chant a healing spell to heal his shoulder, but...* Karoku leaps upwards and with his hands, claps them together, blowing Tim off of War Goat
* Karoku purposely activates the white orb, and nothing happens as said by Tim
However, that is not the case. Unfortunately, the spell was meant to kill Kevin. Instead, Karoku had something else in mind...Karoku: What's wrong? Don't like being out-witted in your own game? Well, I'm afraid that's too bad. I completely changed the target of who is to die from that stupid spell.
Tim: But how did you see through it?
Karoku: I knew from the very beginning that something was wrong. Your stupid smile noted me that there was a catch the nothingness. As if you were hiding a loop from me. Obviously, it may have harmed someone else. You see, I had given Kevin one of my fruit for his botany and herb research. It completely negated your spell useless. Oh yes, I put a lot of wasted love into a piece of fruit that was going to decay in the hands of some bull-crap spell. Amazing, like a magnet, right? Now for the one who takes the death penalty.....
After hearing this, Tim lifts his glasses up higher and smiles again. This time, he feels proud, and Kevin finally releases himself from the prison in the mean time.Tim: The tables have turned, haven't they? Now tell me- us.... Who did you kill and how?
Karoku smiles with a rather dark look in his face and a great shine in his glowing red eyes. The air around develops a rather foul and humid taste, as Kevin holds his breath from the horrid odor. Coming from the halls all the way back in the deepest dark of the cavern, comes that source of smell. Something is dead.....
In the mean time, Chierce takes out the same plant they use to make beer, and brews it himself (with a few pieces of wood, water, and his shoulder armor as the pot). Already looking wasted, Chierce does not hesitate to drink his beer, as Akier too joins in the little "camp fire." Chierce (now flushing red): Oh-ho-ho! This will be a mighty fine drinking!
Akier: You idiot! You haven't even started and you're wasted!
Utoa: You two are too careless. Drinking your beer and watching your stupid sports. Look at you two! You're a couple of stereotypes!
Akier: Now, now, Utoa. You know Irish people are capable of handling gallons of alcohol in one season. It's inherent...
Kormin: Maybe you're overdoing it? BAH! Who cares? We all share a destined fate. It's like Chinese people. They're all good at martial arts.
Chierce: Okay, okay, can't we talk about something else? Like, how great a beer this is!
Akier (spits some out): PFFT! Tastes like your sweat. Did you forget to wash your shoulder plate?
Chierce: Don't hate! You can't blame me for not having any wipes...
Akier: Well! We practically travel! You have to wash your clothes every once in a while!
Chierce: Oh shut up!
Kormin, in the background, sits down and begins smoking. As for Utoa, she snatches the cigarette and breaks it in two. Utoa raises her fist and shatters the ground with great force, tossing the bones all over the place.Utoa: ARE YOU ALL BLIND???!!! What is going on? Kormin! Why are you smoking?! That's a sin! A rule that lives on Order. And Akier and Chierce, I don't care how tough your bodies are, you cannot drink! That is also against the rules! Are you all giving up!? What are we doing here? We should be out there helping them?!
Chierce begins to suffer from a heart attack in front of Akier and Kormin's eyes.Kormin: Utoa.....
Utoa: MY KEVIN- THAT BOY IS OUT THERE! I HAVE YET TO MEET THE STRANGER!.....
Akier: Utoa.....
Chierce continues to suffer great pain as Utoa continues ranting on and on with what they should have done.Utoa: AND WHAT IS THAT NOISE?!
Utoa turns her attention to a now blue Chierce. His blood pressure rises greatly and begins to sweat out blood. Shocked by this scene, Utoa turns to whatever Chierce has in his pockets, and all of the herbs vaporize completely.Utoa: *Panting* Darn, these blasted plants are over-due. Hang in there Chierce!
Tremors come from the other side, as Karoku finally unleashes the force in both hands, canceling the orange sphere and activating the white one...
Chierce is dead...
The others are left in sheer terror, as they watch their fallen comrade fall on the floor, they all stand together in this moment of sadness. Karoku redirected the spell and killed Chierce instead...
And now, back to the fight...Karoku: I killed Chierce...
Kevin (hearing this): Hasu! Is this some kind of joke?!
Karoku walks towards Kevin, closing his wings and ears back, leaving Tim alone with his fallen Goat, trying to heal himself and in the mean time...Kevin: Why?......
Karoku: I had t-
Kevin: Why?......
Kevin continues interrupting him, with sheer hate of his befallen friend, ever hearing word from his explanation; he takes out his spear and points it at Karoku's face as if threatening him.Kevin: WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?! I HATE YOU!!!!
Karoku: .....
* Karoku jabs Kevin's shoulder and puts him to sleep
Tim, watching from the back, walks to the center of the field facing Karoku.Tim: Heh, you have a lot of evil in your heart. I can sense it... Perhaps you should join us, and rule with Chaos as it covers the Earth in eternal darkness!
Tim puts his hand in front of Karoku for a deal.
Unfortunately...Karoku: No....
Karoku declines.Tim: Ahhh (raising his finger), so you're a loner?
Karoku: No....
Tears run down Karoku's eyes, as he feels a piece of guilt in his heart and mind. He calls his sword to him, as it moves itself into the ceiling, to the walls, and sprouts from the ground where he is now.Karoku: I had to protect Kevin. You were planning on killing him. You really are a sick bastard, and to prove I don't need this kind of power, I will take care of you and War Goat.....
Tim: Brave words from a foolish soul. Such a shame, and I though you truly fell victim to the madness. Alas, I do not direct your path of destiny. Only you do. Very well then. Let us proceed.
Karoku (powering down): (Forgive me Kevin... Unlike Chierce, we need you...)
Page 5:
Feeling the absence of life, Karoku takes his first step to continue their warfare, in hopes of bringing back Conscerra and the entire village. The rush fills both of them, as Tim pulls out his umbrella to get in Karoku's way of his destiny, and he will not stop for a demi-god at any cost....* Karoku thrusts his sword at Tim and lunges at him 3 seconds after his blade
* Tim opens his umbrella for shielding
* Karoku catches his sword in midair and thrusts it again to the ground
Karoku (blocking the umbrella with his own two legs): Hand-stand...
Tim (swaying the umbrella in hopes to cut him): Pointless!
Karoku: I'm not finished yet!
* Karoku commands his blade to burrow the Earth
* Karoku (with his legs), lifts Tim into the air and brings out his blade once again
* Karoku slices Tim's legs
Tim falls to the floor and stands up with his umbrella in the air. He charges the flames within and holds it like a spear. Now aggravated, Tim takes out gun powder from his pockets and tosses it all over the field.Tim: Now, this isn't just any gun powder. If you're wise, you'd reconsider putting effort to your maneuver and strategy. Any shot of flames or any drop of sparks will make this all go kaboom!
Karoku: I don't have to worry about that...
* Karoku puts his hands to the ground and channels dark energy from the bottom
* Tim runs at high speed, ready to pierce Karoku in the heart
Karoku: *Keeee* Grrrrrr..... ROOT WAVE!
* Karoku releases the energy from the ground and dodges it as it hits Tim instead
* Tim absorbs it with the tip of his umbrella's torch
Karoku: *GASP*!
Tim: What's wrong? You look tense. Oh? Your attack was useless? Why yes it is...
Karoku: How could you run? I practically cut you under your knees!
Tim: You're slow, that you are.
Tim pulls out his book and chants a quick spell. The flame grows bigger and wider, and protrudes smaller flames from the tips of the umbrella. Around them, the darkness caves in faster, and the sun dies in Ri-Kiagun as time goes by quick. Disturbed, Karoku does not hesitate and proceeds onward with his sword.Karoku: Hmm, so you can absorb just about anything huh? We'll see about that...
* Karoku appears behind Tim and plants a berry to the ground to where he stands
Karoku: OVER HERE!
* Karoku punches Tim in the face
But....* Tim quickly blocks it with his own palm
* Tim stabs Karoku with the flames, setting the gun powder on fire
Tim: THIS IS THE END!
Karoku (enduring the pain): PFFT! Study your opponent a little more, will ya?
Before the gun powder could engulf the entire cavern, the berry absorbs all the combustion and begins to sprout out of the ground. It becomes a whole dome, surrounding them in new darkness. The only visible for of light is the eerie purple aura glowing under the dome itself, with some red in it. Surprised, Tim takes out his book and begins chanting yet another spell. This time, he calls on War Goat to a new maximum.Tim: Interesting, and now I want to show you something even better than just War Goat. Ever seen one in its full form?
Karoku: You mean it's its own species?
Tim: Close, but not exactly. You see, I made these creatures myself. My book is yet unfinished and I can add anything I want. Any spell, any trick, any illusion, any summoning! You haven't seen half of what I wrote, or will finish writing for that matter.
Kevin is outside of the bloom, sleeping still...Tim (begins chanting his spell): MIJ vraagpremie op naar de godin van warboel! Uiterlijk vertoon mij uw zuiver vorm! Wel , ziehier , Oorlog Steenbok! Naar de Voeren van storm!
* Tim summons a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a long Greek robe.
She wears a tiara with gold and many red gems. Her dress is very simplistic, but she also carries a golden apple with her. She turns the apple into large horns, and wears them.
Witnessing this, Karoku holds on to his blade as tight as possible. He calls on the energy of the bloom and holds it in his left hand. When he holds his sword and coats it with this energy, it turns a sickly black and Karoku himself begins to go demonic again, without control of it.Karoku (losing conscience): What the hell is happening to me..... GAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!
Karoku suffers from dehydration, as his spirit can't help but to reveal itself as Karoku's demonic state, trying to fight the fact that there is no oxygen left. This is a sign that one cannot live without the other, and Karoku is dying from the lack of oxygen around.
Tim laughs and beholds the mighty goddess Eris transforms into a hideous incarnation of War Goat. Enormous and gruesome, it roars a roar loud enough to be heard all the way to Ryokou.
(The Dean of Union Academy wakes up)Dean: Huh? WHO'S THERE?!
Looking at this, Karoku releases a ridiculous amount of energy, but at a price...Karoku: I'm-los-losing, control....
Tim: Rendered weak and defenseless. You had to fall sometime. And now, for the end of your pathetic life...
The more Karoku lets out the aura of Draco, the more he wastes it all permanently. Something is happening.....Tim: ERIS! DESTROY HIM!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Karoku: *GASP!*
Page 6:
The pain is familiar and unbearable. This ground-breaking, earth-shattering feel devours the very being of this boy, and takes a step no further but to feel more agony of this movement-restricting state of his. He is as helpless as he is dangerous...* War Goat de la Eris tries to pierce Karoku's head and break it in two
* Karoku fights back with the skin of Draco and repetitively grows more and more by the second after each dismantled piece
Tim: (This vermin just won't give up! I need to think of something quick...)
Karoku (in agony): (Holy.... why am I in so much pain? It hurts.....)
Tim (desperate): (Hmm, where do I have that page.... think-think-think...)
Tim browses for another book possibly containing info on Karoku's current biography as Chapter. Finding the book, it is entitled "World's Wonders of Who." Containing info on important and infamous characters, he finds "Hasu, Karoku" in one of the pages. Reading about Karoku and his state of being, he notices a context in history that blinded almost all of his home town in his yester-years.* Karoku jumps at War Goat de la Eris and starts punching her forehead at extreme speed
War Goat de la Eris (yelping in pain and bleeding): GRAAAAAA!!!!
Karoku: TAKE THIS!
* War Goat de la Eris tries to shake Karoku loose before taking another hit
Karoku holds on and refuses to let go. Meanwhile, Tim tries to relax in all of this and sits down to read more about Karoku.
Everything else is left between Karoku and Eris.Tim: Let's see now.... Karoku Hasu is a student in Union Academy.... *mumble* Average student known to misbehave- blah blah blah... *mumble* ... punching bag to those in and out of town! Well! I guess he was a vermin back then as well..... *mumble* Once sabotaged an entire quadrant with uncontainable stress... blah blah bl- ! WAIT!
Tim flips the pages back to find what he has skipped.Tim: Once sabotaged an entire quadrant with uncontainable stress Ahhh! Let's see here... It says one time, he was- *mumbles*
In the mean time, Karoku still holds on Eris' horns, and yet still, Eris continuously tries to shake him off.
In the process Karoku bleeds profusely from his head.Karoku (in sheer pain): It feels like me head is going to explode! Oh my- what was it called? Popping a vessel? Ehhh...
War Goat de la Eris: You are a pest! ENOUGH OF THIS!
* War Goat de la Eris stretches her tongue out and pulls Karoku from her
War Goat de la Eris: NOW YOU'RE MINE!
* War Goat de la Eris crushes Karoku's body with her own tongue in hopes to devour him as soon as his bones break
Karoku: GAAAAHHHH!!!!!
This is a moment of desperation. Karoku and Kevin run into a mess they can't seem to solve on their own, the Order priests lose one of their own, and their own town is devoured by Tim's Chaotic hands; no longer do they live in this world.
Tim continues reading, sticking his tongue out and wiping his index on it to flip through the pages. Calm, he sits there, watching the helpless demi-god fight to free himself, and he only grins with a "hmph."Karoku (with regret): I'm so sorry..... Senichi, Giino.... Kevin....
* Karoku continues to struggle
War Goat de la Eris: You humans and your pathetic love. Yo don't even know love! Oh wait! Awww, how adorable! You hide your heart from society and are afraid to admit that YOU ARE JUST A TIMID COWARD. Absolutely nothing about you is tough! You're just delicate on the inside, and you're afraid to tell even your closest friends that you are weak! What is it that prevents you from revealing your fears?! WHAT IS IT?!
Karoku (feeling less pain than before): Teh! You really want to know?
* War Goat de la Eris continues crushing Karoku
War Goat de la Eris: I'll promise to make your death less painful...
Karoku (in pain again): Gihhh! YEAH RIGHT! AN UGLY BITCH LIKE YOU?! Never...
War Goat de la Eris: YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!
* War Goat de la Eris squeezes Karoku tighter and begins to bend his back a little at last
However, Karoku does not give up. He fights back with every strength he has, and then.....Karoku (infuriated like never before): ENOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAD IT! I AM
NOT A COWARD! AND I WILL PROVE YOU WRONG!!!
After 10 minutes of reading through his childhood, Tim finally finds out the source of Karoku's suffering.Page 7:
Tim (interrupting): How very nice *clap clap clap*. You almost managed destroying an entire 25-mile range in one night, as a child! Bravo! And now, for story time kiddies...
Karoku starts to have sudden flash-backs of the events that made him lose all his memory; they come blindingly fast as it puts him in a seizure-like state. It's horrifying...
As for Eris, she gets a chance to taste Karoku so that she can eat him afterward.War Goat de la Eris (transforming back to normal): Tsk, tsk. Poor little boy can't stand a few playful images, can't he?
Tim: Ahhh, but the truth is sooo much better...
Karoku: SHUT UP!!!! S-S-S-STOP R-READING!!!!
Tim (sarcastically): WHAT'S THAT?! YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE? OKAY!
Tim continues reading aloud all the info he has found, and it all comes down to this short paragraph-* Karoku extends his blade from the ground and cuts part of Tim's book off
Tim: YOU VERMIN!
* Tim summons orange lightning and strikes it on Karoku
Karoku falls to the floor, weaken by this light
This leaves a chunk of information blanked out, only supplying what has happened.
Tim reads it anyway... "....and so, because of this random act of vengeance, it is all that spike of energy and stress that caused the Great Stroke of the century, nearly killing the child. However, he survives, and it is a miracle; a classmate of his so desperately saved him, she even went onto CPR (she claimed to not have liked it either). She acclaims that this young boy was holding all his stress in one day, it got to a point his physical and emotional being couldn't take it, and so his mind let-loose and caused him to go out-of-control. To this day, he is infamous for his almost-infinite (if not infinite) containment of aura. Rumors have it that Draco isnt' even involved in this phenomena..."Karoku (calmer now): .....
Eris: Oh, poo! What happened this time?!
Tim: The rest was torn, but at least the general information remained, heh heh.
Tim and Eris notice Karoku to react blankly to the message. Eris transforms again in hopes to intimidate. However, Karoku just stands there staring...Eris: BLINK, WILL YOU?!
* Karoku powers down dramatically and regains normality
Karoku (blushing): I heard in that message that a girl "kissed" me. I'm not such a loser after all! I WAS KISSED BY A GIRL!
Tim and Eris fall to the floor (comically)Tim: But... it clearly said-
Karoku: Wait a minute... I remember the face that did so.... UGH! OH MY GOD! NOT HER! KEYA-
I open a random hole in the ground and pukes in it. The image is just evil...Karoku: THAT GIRL WAS A DEMON! WHY would she save my life?
Eris tears with joy and hugs Tim without noticing.Eris: Awww, she was obviously in love. (Grinning evilly) Too bad I wasn't there to crush it!
Karoku (annoyed): I'D RATHER SUFFER FROM THAT SEIZURE I WAS HAVING! THANKS A LOT TIM! NOW I HAVE THAT STUCK IN MY HEAD FOREVER! NOW I REMEMBER A LITTLE MORE FROM MY CHILDHOOD! THANKS! THANKS A LOT, BIG HELP!
* Karoku brings out Shimekiribi and calls the energy back into the blade
Karoku: ... It's time for a wake-up call... Kevin!
I go to where Kevin is and force him to wake up, punching him with excitement.Karoku: WAKE, UP! WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE!
Kevin (waking from his sleep): Karoku? OWW! My face... What in the world got into you?!
* Karoku slaps Kevin in the face
Kevin: ...........
Karoku: BEFORE YOU JUMP INTO CONCLUSIONS... you were pretty deep-asleep, and not all of this is my doing if Cheirce is still on your mind. I'll explain later. For now, we have trouble. BIG trouble. PLEASE! YOU HAVE TO trust me on this!
Kevin: I don't know...
I point to Eris and Tim, now grabbing Kevin's attention. Kevin: Hmmm, fine...
Eris, who happens to have a big bust, catches Kevin's attention as he stares at them. Due to hormones, I had to pull his ears all the way to his elbow to finally get his attention.Kevin: YOUCH! Man, she's hot...
Karoku: Yes, isn't she? Now come on, ready your sword!
Kevin: Harpoon!
Karoku: WHATEVER!
Eris: So, you boys want to play? Very well then. Tis' is sad, we could have waited 3 more years and you both could be mine.
Karoku: Enough of this you dirty whore! This will end here, and I will avenge Chierce, even if the fault falls on you Tim!
Kevin leans his back mine as if they we're leaning on one pole, looking cool. I take a toothpick made out of the same stuff as my blade and gnaw on it. It hurts...Karoku: We mean business.
Tim: Amazing how a few words get to him. I must wonder, did his life suck so bad, this somehow "cheered him up?"
Eris: Yes....
* Kevin pulls out his harpoon and the Sphere of Sanctuary
Kevin: WASH WAVE!
* Kevin summons a swirling wave of water at Kevin and Eris
Eris: HOW DARE HE-
Karoku: Watch your mouth lady. DRACO MASSACRE!
* Karoku releases a wave of black/indigo energy at Eris, pushing her into the water
Eris is suspended in the clash of water and darkness.Eris: AHHHHHHHHH!
Kevin: KAROKU! NOW!
Karoku: Right!
* Karoku/Kevin hold their weapons like pool sticks and joust forward at Eris
Karoku/Kevin: BLACK-WATER SHRINE!!!!
* Karoku/Kevin combine the force their attacks and swirl Eris into a vortex of black-water
Eris is scratched and hurt a little, but her clothes come off.Karoku (blushing but looking away): Ahem! Errr.... So I guess Tim is next (trying to ignore Eris).
Eris (flushed in anger and embarrassment): YOU!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I LOST TO A COUPLE OF KIDS! DEMI-GOD CHILDREN! A DISGRACE! I HOPE YOU'RE BOTH HAPPY, BECAUSE I WILL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER SEE ANOTHER WOMAN N-
Utoa: YOU SICK PERVERT! HOW COULD YOU?!
Eris: What in Hades' name?
Kevin is completely amazed and scared at the same time. Seeing Utoa, he stands in fear and happiness.Kevin: I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE?
Out of nowhere, Utoa comes out and strangles Kevin. Akier and Kormin summon a spell to hold Eris captive.Akier: Oh no you don't lass. You are too, wanted by our little club.
Eris: Ahh, Akier and his assembly of tight-wad goodie two-shoes came to the rescue... WELL! Tell that "little" club this "big" girlie wants no other place that sweet old Tartarus!
Kormin (sarcastically): You can make new friends!
* Eris causes the apple to react and blow them away with great force
* Eris summons a vortex to Hell, and escapes
Eris (blows a kiss to everyone): Ta-ta, buffoons!
Akier: Her kisses are a bad omen...
It takes me a while to notice that Kevin is getting hurt pretty bad by Utoa.Utoa (rather infuriated at the moment): HOW-COULD-YOU-DO-SUCH-A-PERVERTED-THING?!
All of us hold Utoa back wondering what's wrong with her.Kevin: I'M SORRY! I COULDN'T RESIST! AND WHAT DO YOU CARE?!
Utoa: I WORRY ABOUT YOU'RE WELL-BEING!
Kevin: Oh, so I suppose staring is an-
I slap the back of Kevin's head.Karoku: Idiot... that's called respecting another woman. It's the opposite of perversion. Gonna pity yourself just because you're a man?
Akier (whispering in my ear): She's a little jealous of Eris. She thinks she may lose Kevin to someone we despise.
And noticing just now that these strangers came in, I come to notice they're from Order, and so I greet them.Karoku: Excuse me! Hello, my name is Karoku Hasu. I'm a friend of Kevin's.
Akier: Ahh! Yes, Kormin has said so. Did you defeat him?
Karoku: Ehhh.... not quite. He's still over there, sleeping?
Tim (sleeping): ZzzzZzzzZzzzZzzz....
Akier: *Sigh* I guess not...
Tim finally wakes up and notices the entire group re-united, with the exception of Chierce.Tim: So bored, so very bored...
Akier: FACE IT TIM! YOU'VE LOST!
Tim: Wrong old man, although Karoku, you rule the day. There is nothing I can do against all of you, since I've already tired out.
Tim hears a familiar ringing. Order is coming through a warp hole! This time, several large bodies come out of the vortex, but Tim is quicker...Tim: VON BOYAGE!
* Tim summons a teleportation spell and escapes
Kormin: That coward...
Order Soldier (the largest of the foreign bodies): We have come for the tyrant, Tim, my lord...
This brute, along with various smaller ones, are nothing more than giant talking rocks. Half of their bodies are rough black-red diamond-surfaced material and their other half is white-blue, nice and polished.
I come up to the behemoth without fear.Order Soldier (directing his sharp arm at me): State your name.
Karoku: Oh! I even forgot to tell everyone! (Standing straight) My name is Karoku Hasu, and I am a resident of the Ryokou sector of Japan, in Ryokou city.
Order Soldier (stricter): What are your purposes?
Man, this guy is tough. On the bright side, however, everything goes back to normal and the water starts to fall again. Air returns once more and everything cleanse itself in absence of Tim. Finally...Kormin: Calm down general! He's just a child!
Order (charging his beam): I am fully aware of the situation, however, it does not restrict my authority against the child, no matter how young. I must get questions out of EVERY suspicious character. Repeat: What are your purposes?
Karoku: Okay, okay! I get the point! I don't know yet, actually.... I'm just a traveler told by a creature that I am special, and that I should recruit people just like me...
Page 8:
This golem is of no way a man of generosity, and seems to bring his men alongside him just in case I make a move. That is, if I ever do such a thing. Kevin is still infuriated with Chierce's short-lived moments and hugs Utoa. She clutches him to her chest. Kormin puts his hand on his forehead, rubbing it and at the same time smiling. He sees the water falling clearer and clearer and the plants begin to bloom. The only down-fall to Chierce's decease is the loss of the botanical. They instantly burned away as if cremated. Everything seems to be returning to normal, however, with the absence of Tim it would seem he'd make a final act before he would find any satisfaction in today at all.As for the brute, let's just say he isn't the jewel you'd wan to stare for long...Karoku: What exactly are you here for? Other than Tim that is?
One of the Order Soldiers whisper to the leader, looking at me and back at his ear. Taking precaution with my well-being, he backs away with an armed load. He seems to feel threaten by my presence, but I can't blame him. I had lost it in these hours.Order Soldier #5 (whispering): I sense a strong dark side in this one. Should we trust him?
Order Soldier: Don't jump into conclusions...... yet.
I do feel a little fatigue from that last one, but I wasn't planning on leaving Tim just yet. I had to do something about it, and without further ado, dropped another berry on him just for mind games. Hope to see what he plans to do with it when he finds it stained on his umbrella.
Though, judging from his fondness of blood...Tim (looking at a stain): Hmm? Blood? I wonder how Dragon blood tastes like, let-alone a demi god...
Tim is elsewhere in a random path, possibly resembling the one taken by Senichi and Giino.Tim (coughing): GIH! GOD, THAT IS AWFUL! *COUGH, COUGH, COUGH*
Tim chokes on this false stain of blood, suffering from what a warm-blood cannot breath: carbon dioxide. It has at least a truck's worth of the gas, and it is dangerous to swallow.Tim (grunting): I'll get you yet, Hasu Bet on it...
But alas, it isn't a total loss. I got to met another one of my own a bit quickly.Karoku: Say, where do you come from, Kevin? You don't seem Japanese.
Kevin (sitting down next to Utoa): From North America, and speak for yourself! I can still see your eye-lids.
Karoku: Yes, well, I live here, but I don't quite remember much about my birth.
It does feel pretty amazing knowing that this one came from a far off continent, and hope he does not plan to leave soon. Either way, he has no choice. I have to ask him otherwise.
Feeling a rather comfortable humidity by my cheek, I turn to see an angry and charged Order Soldier.* Karoku takes Shimekiribi out to play
Karoku: Grrr...
Akier steps in to stop us.Akier: The lad hurt no one, understand?
Karoku: Yeah, what gives?
The Order Soldier backs out due to Akier's order, but as he does, a large man in a white robe appears from a dimensional door way behind him.
He's a tall man, with his face covered to where only his lips are visible. His robes sparkle a rather glossy white gold around it, bright and tedious to stare at. He brings out his white cane, vividly pearl and has bright as a diamond. He steps forward and points at the Order Soldier with his cane.
Everyone else bows down in spite of this man. Taking no risk of what might happen...Kevin (whispering): PSST! Karoku, get down!
And I take a bow.Man-in-white: Allow me to introduce myself. I am Thomas, Bringer of Order. I come here with knowledge of the young Chapter, Karoku, who has brought refuge to his town, deserted his people, and form bonds with our favored ally. I come and seek your true intentions, and why you follow a path you're too stubborn to take; why you are deciding to form this band, I can tell. As for you #1, you may step out of his way.
Order Soldier: Yes, my lord...
He walks in front of me. This is all rather sudden, but I try to play along. After all, the true problem is that lord who's trying to enslave is all. However, he's right, my intentions are rather arrogant and stupid, not that I care.Thomas: Why are you here and what is your true goal? Do not be afraid to speak.
Karoku: I'd figure it be the only way I can carry on and take care of myself without listening to authority. I'd thought that this way, I can make new friends instead of the ones I have in my old town. I guess all I want is to live a free life and get away with murder, the evil kind, that is.
* Thomas hits Karoku
Karoku: Gah!
Thomas: Foolish little child! You do have allies back home, but I can understand that. Young minds always eager to explore new horizons. Take every word said from Mr. Chuckles- I can see it all.
So he must know about the large snake-like monster that granted me my sanctuary and blade.Karoku: Wait... What do you know of Ozonsou? The holder of the snake?
Thomas: ...
* Thomas teleports from sight
What was that all about? He leaves without answering my question! What a load of bull...Karoku (confused): Ehhh.... So, what about you guys?
Akier: We'd best get going as well. It was nice meeting you, Karoku. However...
Kormin: You can do us a favor and...
Utoa: Protect Kevin, or I'll kill you!
Kormin: Yes, that, err... and whenever, catch Tim and bring him down. Bring him to us, dead or alive. Whatever stops his reign of terror.
Karoku: I still find this very odd.
Utoa: In the world of the living, everything is odd...
* Utoa kicks me in the shin and teleports with the others
Karoku: HIYYYYY! WHY DID SHE DO THAT FOR?!
Kevin chuckles and walks towards the waterfall.Kevin: I guess she doesn't like you, hehehe.
Karoku: Not funny! Come on, let's get out of here.... !
It all comes back to me! Where the hell are Senichi and Giino?!Karoku: OH MY GOD! I COMPLETELY FORGOT!
* Karoku hardens his scales and stretches his wings out
Karoku: Hop on. There's something I've should've done awhile ago.
Kevin: I am not riding you...
Karoku: If you don't, I will make you swallow 500,000 tons of water falling from a hundred-story waterfall at a speed-
Kevin: OKAY-OKAY
Kevin climbs on my back, and I dart out of the water fall. We land in the same road where we met, and continue from there on out.Karoku: Okay, so here's the thing. Before I came, I had to cross a salt-marsh just a few yards from here. I lost contact with Senichi and Giino, and I was knocked out by this being named Kitoku. Those two are like us as well, and we need to find him. But for now, let's just get on in our way and see if we can meet up with them. I'm sure one of them can track my scent somehow...
Kevin (walking into a forest with Karoku): And how's that?
Karoku: Well! Erm... one's a snake and the other's a wolf! Pretty convient eh? I'm the Dragon, so yeah I'm kick-ass! And you're a?
Kevin: Cetus, The Whale.
Karoku: Cool! Look, I'm sorry, I'm not good at this talking thing...
Kevin: It's okay, as long as you show good nature, 'tis fine with me.
And so, we move on our way. Glad that Tim has given up (for now), we speak of random things and re-introduce ourselves along the way.
Meanwhile.......Page 9:
Out there, in the middle of a forest of no such name, walk Senichi and Giino. In these quiet woods, plays a song of chirping birds and small waterfalls called "Chiisana Hibaku," waterfalls that hang from the forest's tree trunks. In this peaceful environment, brings the only possible madness any place on the face of the Earth can comprehend. That force of chaos is.....Giino (popping out of the bushes): A COUNTRY VS. A CUNT-TREE!
Senichi (falling back): GAH! Giino, you asshole!
Giino laughs uncontrollably as Senichi wipes the dirt off his clothes. Senichi takes his sword and out and begins playing it.Giino: HAHAHA, HAHA, HA, HA..... (wiping his tears).
Senichi (playing his flute): (Idiot...)
Giino, staring at Senichi, is puzzled, then hears a wild flock of birds closing in from behind. A large family of Woodpeckers attack Giino and start poking him in all places.Giino: AHHH! SENICHI, GET THESE RATS WITH WINGS OFF ME!
Senichi, ignoring Giino's demands, continues playing the flute and attracts more of the flying fiends.Giino: THIS IS NOT- AHH! FUNNY! YOUCH! NOT DOWN THERE! AHHHH!!!
Senichi (with an unimpressed face): (You and your stupid vs. matches...)
Giino: OKAY-OKAY! I'LL STOP WITH THE VS. MATCHES! JUST CALL OUT THESE STUPID BIRDS!
Senichi stops, and the Woodpeckers fly back to their little wooden homes. A loud ruckus is heard from the light of the forest (the end), and Senichi and Giino suspect it to just be another flock of birds.
They investigate, and arriving at that point, come to end of the forest and set out on a pirate's bay. It is absolutely sandy and crusty. The beach is beautiful and the water is crystal clear. In fact, this bay is the border of Japan, leading to the other side of Asia.However, the setting in the foreground is rather salty and messy. Different bands of rebels, assassins, and pirates set out in this small port, just drinking and singing.
As for the commotion and disturbance (other than Giino)...Giino (mumbling): Vs. matches, vs. matches, vs.matches...
* CRAAAAAAAACK !!!!!!Someone breaks a large hole from the roof-top of a small hut. A man with a bandanna of purple and black with two scimitars jumps in sight of Senichi and Giino, now taking notice. The man looks at them; Senichi stares, eye-to-eye. The mysterious stranger "hmphs" and scurries off with what seems to be a lot gold and jewelry.Random Pirate (from the hut): AYE! GET BACK HERE, KAITO, OR YOUR HEAD WILL BE OURS!
The stranger is too far to be seen or captured. The large man throws his bandanna on the floor.Random Pirate: TO DAVY JONES LOCKER, WITH YA!
Senichi and Giino walk to the man, look at each other and glance at this filthy man.Senichi (stuffing his sword to the ground): Okay, we're gonna try to be nice, like good kids. Tell us what happened here.
Random Pirate: Arr, and what may ye speak, lad? Here to know of that scoundrel?!
Senichi: Actually-
Random Pirate: Aye! It's terrible! Masamune Kiato is the name. He drifts and wanders all over the country, stealing our booty! While we take the blame from ye Captian *sniff.*
The random pirate goes on, while Giino, continues muttering his vs. matches.
Oh yes, it is rather lovely in this small port *sarcasm* ...Senichi (sweating in disapproval): -SIIIIIIIIGH-
Random Pirate: So there I was! Battling the Krakken! Oh, it was a sight to see. The beast- errr, well, ye heard it in legends already, but! It exists still! No one has claimed its corpse yet. Anyways! I was a survivor, lads! Ohoho! No one leaves the Krakken's grasp, but I did it! And...
It seems like an hour has passed, with the non-too-bright-and-not-so-dedicated-to-hunting-Kiato, pirate. Senichi gets his sword out and begins to play it.Senichi (calling the Woodpeckers again): (Another idiot...)
The WoodPeckers start pecking at the pirate.Random Pirate: AVAST! ARRG! AHHHHH!!!! GET OFF ME YOU SCURVY RATS!
Senichi just looks down in total disapproval.Senichi: Baka...
Giino: Nice! Now let's grab one of those ships and settle the other side! ASIA, HERE WE COME!
Senichi: I get to become a pirate ((almost sounding excited)? Who cares! Part-vampire rules!
As for the other pirates who witnessed the stranger, Masamune Kiato, who wreck their bar, ready their swords and point at the two young men.The group: Arrg, no one dares to out-smart a pirate! Well, except for Masamune, but anyways! YOU
WILL NOT TAKE HER!
Giino (actually paying attention): Hey Senichi. Who are these jerks talking to?
Page 10:
Senichi: Who is
she you're referring too?
Blinded by the vocabulary of the average Pirate, Giino slaps Senichi in the head and takes his Coma-Coil blade out.Giino (turning to Senichi, then the pirate horde): It's pirate talk, yeesh! As for you guys, I'm going to make you taste the salty seas, starting with you!
Giino smiles evilly and spins his sword in the air like a string dancer. Seeing this, one of the pirates laugh, and begins to grow along with the others. They all fall down drunk, some unconscious, and others just too stupid to notice what is going.
Random Pirate #3: HAHAHAHAHA, HE'S NOTHING BUT A WEE LITTLE GIRL!
Seeing this, Giino ropes in a helpless drunk pirate and tosses him into the ocean, far out at least 50 yards. In the process, he dies from blood loss once he hits ocean-bottom. Giino means serious business.Giino (talking Pirate): Ahoy! Ye must leave now or all will fall into Davy Jones' Locker! HAHAHAHAHA!
Giino manages to scare some of the pirates away, but some remain to defend their ship and their treasure.Random Pirate #7: I will fight to the death, even if- oomph!
* Giino stabs the pirate and leans his foot to push the corpse away from his blade
Giino (aggravated): You guys just wont shut up, now do you?
Senichi jumps in and shows his eye-patch, frightening some, and getting others to wet themselves. However, seeing as how none of these buffoons could possibly take on Giino, let-alone both these young Chapters, the crew's captain comes in.
He is a tall, and shady man. His hat covers his face because of the great size and the shadow it casts upon it. He also appears bulky and strong, and his suit is a mixture of Old English and Spanish pirate-wear. The man, like most Pirate-crew-captains, he has a hook, however, it resembles a curved blade. His peg-leg is also rather sharp.
The other pirates bow down to him. Seeing how these young men have yet to sway away with the rest, the Captain can't help but to barge in and settle this quarrel himself.The Captain: Aye, and what brings you two lily-livers here?!
Senichi (barging in like nobody's business): You guys still exist? I thought Pirates were a myth! This has to be some kind of lie.
* The Captain pulls out his sword and holds it to Senichi's face
The Captain (bowing down with his hat, and still not showing his face): Ye may call me Captain Romano, and both aren't the only scally-wags with demon spirits! I, too, have one!
Romano shows them his Sextant: A tool used for navigating the high-seas, like a telescope/protractor put in one. Curious, both teen boys take a look and feel an eerie golden aura from it.Romano: Impressive, no?
Giino: Yeah, yeah, whoopdie doo! Now excuse us or we'll have to get ugly.
Romano: Not quite!
* Romano slits Giino's throat while pulling him towards him
Romano: One more word of ye, and well... RAPE, PILL, AND PLUNDER, INTO THE SEVEN SEAS! AND BE EATEN BY YE KRAKKEN! Or, I could just chop your head off....
Dropping the Pirate accent, Romano looks into his sextant to see if there's any storm coming. Calling it safe to sail, he proceeds with his shenanigans: threatening these two.
However, Senichi wasn't about to give up just yet.Senichi: Let him go...
* Romano lifts his sword up to cut Senichi in half
* Senichi surrounds himself in grayish aura and counters with his sword at blinding speed
Senichi: One word or touch out of you and it's more than just the Krakken or Davy Jones...
Impressed by this site, Romano wasn't about to give in his ship just yet, so he wagers a bet.Romano: Aye! Stong you are- I may have underestimated you. BUT! How about we settle this like gentlemen?
Giino (whispering from the pain in his neck): D-d-don't do it... Pirates are cheaters...
Romano: SILENCE!
* Romano spears his peg-leg onto Giino's back
Senichi (ignoring Giino's words): ...
Romano, looking at his eyes, comes to accept the fact Senichi is willing to fight for his ship. Romano walks to his ship, dragging Giino in ropes. Senichi follows, and by direct orders from Captain Romano, the crew stays put.
Making their way into the ship, the Captain and Senichi pose on the poop deck, ready to fight.Romano: By the way, I never said Scutum was my avatar. Look around ye. THIS is my avatar. Ye has fallen into a trap, and now ye must pay!
Romano points to the floor of the Poop Deck and suggests that his avatar power is the ship itself. He is the wielder of "Puppis" (The Poop Deck).Senichi (feeling stupid): ...! (Damn,) then who the heck is Scutum?
Romano: A Pirate never reveals his secrets, laddy.
Both distracted, Giino pushes the ship into the ocean. With all his might, they set assail, and Giino, reaching for his pocket grabs a couple of carbolxye berries. Ones he snatched from Karoku. Being reptilian, he is able to eat it with ease. Consuming it, he regains enough strength to still move after pushing the ship into the ocean. The two on top do not notice for the Captain has forgotten to pull Giino all the way to the ship.
Instead, Giino sneaks in another way....Page 11:
Giino (sweating): (Brrr, this water is fucking cold)
Giino climbs into a random cannon set in one of the ship's sides, and climbs in around it. Instead, the ship rickets and he falls into the cannon. Struggling to get out and force his way in...Giino (coughing): *COUGH, COUGH* Oh wait, I like smoke! No... Karoku is a fire-breather... Snakes don't breate fire... I HATE SOOT! *COOOUGH!*
Giino finally tips the cannon over and hits himself on the floor.Giino: Owww...
Giino also gets up all covered in blasting powder and gets it by a shelf of portraits and wine bottles arranged by the group. Giino falls on the floor hurt rather idiotically.Giino (getting up and tearing a bit): Gihhh! Stupid- cannon! Alright Senichi, I'm coming to kick that guy's ass and take glory for it!
Giino prances around and skips to the staircase rather obscurely and quietly. Grinning suspiciously, he watches Senichi and Romano go face-to-face.Romano (takes out his sword): Engarde!
* Romano starts poking at Senichi at mach speed
* Senichi attempts to dodge every hit, and succeeds
Giino (dripping mucus): Ooooo!
Senichi: Come on! You can do better than that!
* Senichi does a low kick and trips Romano over
* Romano lands o his hands and does a back-flip; he lands safely and proceeds to slash at Senichi horizontally while bowing with his hat
* Senichi blocks with his sword and blows into the mouth piece
Senichi (playing a beautiful tune): .....
Captain Romano (striking with a mass of angry swipes): That- gih! Is- gah! pretty- geh! good!
* Senichi calls upon seagulls and uses them as distraction
In the process, the hertz exerted by the notes put a hurting on Captain Romano's ears.Romano (panting): Yeeouch! (Covering his ears) WHAT THE HELL IS THAT NOISE?!
Senichi: Your death penalty...
* Senichi lunges to jab Romano in the heart
* Senichi pushes him against the wall of the ship, almost knocking him out
Romano: WOAH!
Senichi: Eh!
Giino: WOO!
Romano (wiping blood from his mouth): I CAN'T BELIEVE-
Senichi (lunging again from mid-air): SHUT UP AND DIE!
Giino (interrupting in the back-ground and grinning rather comically): I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT BUTTER!
Giino takes out his scroll of vs. matches and writes down yet another one...Giino (buck-tooth grin): I can't believe it's not butter vs. I will trust it's mayonnaise..... I GOTTA SAVE THIS FOR THE OTHERS! Oh!
Giino turns back and looks at the fight.* Romano raises his foot in the air and kicks Senichi in the chest
Romano (tipping his hat again): Too slow...
* Romano lefts him up like chewing gum under a shoe and slams him to the ground continuously
* Senichi tries to break free and grabs his leg on the floor
Senichi (sweating): Damn, it's a hot day isn't it?
Romano (smiling): Yes it is laddy, yes it is!
* Senichi pulls Romano over him and slams him over his head to the floor
Senichi: Bring your sword again...
* Romano gets up and holds his hat in one hand and wields his rapier in the other
* Both slam each others' blades, trying to gain momentum and dominance over the other
It is a battle of strength and wits...
As for Giino...Giino: Wait.... I forgot something.... OH YEAH! I WAS GOING TO HELP!
* Giino pulls Coma-coil out
Giino: Time to clean the poop deck!
* Giino begins slashing at the floor of the inside of the ship.... typical Giino
Giino: Yep! These floors will be squeaky clean in no time!
Out of the dark comes a mysterious stranger, with one of the portraits in their hand.Stranger in the dark: Aren't you cute. Silly and innocent! I shall let you taste your own blood once I finish the scar on your neck my ship-mate could not...
It is a she, and she holds a portrait of her and her brother, Romano.....
To Be Continued...[EDIT]: TRIVIA!!!!!!!!!
- Karoku worres on the inside that he abandoned his friend's due to his paranoid nature. He feels guilt and does not express this in front of Kevin.
- Kormin returns in note that he would free his mates. In the process, he reaches Order some how as a cry for help. It works in the end, however, Karoku manages to kill off one under the influence of the orange/white spell.
- A prime example of schizophrenia is shown as Karoku makes a choice in killing off Chierce, as if he knew what would happen from the moment he reheard Tim's words in his own: "the other won't kill you..."
- Karoku admits the death of Chierce, and solely claims he was a waste. If he had chosen to commit suicide with the wrong energy, the whole plot to this story would have been sabotaged. Chierce is not a Chapter so his death would have gone unnoticed either way.
- Karoku seems to show a strong dark-side in this chapter. However, he also claims he did this to save Kevin's life. For whatever reason he has, he has not mentioned, but he is has the "heart-beat of integrity."
- Tim leaves in fear of Order, knowing he could not take on Karoku nor his group.
- ^ In some of these notes, it is plausible that Karoku is immune to most magical and fire attacks (Ziro, for example, but to a limit due to his control of blue-hot fire), so the so-acclaimed suicide would have not worked to its fullest, therefore Karoku could have survived; Dragons are impervious to magic, and Karoku blindly went ahead in his own ways.
- From the point that Tim left and the Order priests return to their HQ, Karoku and Kevin return to the same path and restore balance to Ri-Kiagun. As for the residents, they will appear again, forgetting any of the events that took place.
- From Senichi and Giino's point, they meet Masamune Kaito (Yes, this is Sean's character, a cameo if you will), sort of, and runs off with money and other valuables.
- Two Chapters are mentioned while one introduces himself as Captain Romano, Holder of Puppis.
- Giino is revealed to consume carbolyxe at will without the same side-affects as mentioned in Karoku's bio; like other cold-blooded reptilian half-breeds, he may consume, but to an extent (he is not the same as a Dragon nor Karoku)
